Is $2.4K one-way good for London-Sydney in CI A350 J?

[PaulST]

Apologies in advance as I recognise my question is vague.
I'm looking at a one-way ticket (I know return tickets are better value but this is unavoidable) from London to Sydney in September (21st to be exact) in business.
China Airlines currently have a sale on fro Gatwick-TPE-SYD for $2.4K in the A359 on both flights.
I've also researched other European cities and London is surprisingly the cheapest.

It's considerably cheaper than everyone else. Air India is in 2.9 while everyone else is mid 3Ks or more.

2.4K seems reasonable and I'd be keen to try their new J in the A350.

My question is, should I bite the bullet and buy these tickets or wait and see if something better comes along? I know QR have had flights from Europe to Australia in J return (so I'd just forfeit the return leg) for under $2K but I suspect this may be an extreme sale?

*I don't have enough points for an award.

Many thanks.

 

[RB]

First thoughts are 13 hr transit some days 5hrs other times-maybe the $2,400 is only on those long transit flights?

 

[PaulST]

First thoughts are 13 hr transit some days 5hrs other times-maybe the $2,400 is only on those long transit flights?

It's the 5hr transit, which I figure shouldn't be too painful to spend in the lounge.

 

[Guvner]

If you booked a return why would you want to forfeit the return leg? Couldn't you just book the return as far out as possible with a view to maybe one day using it? or at least using a portion of it and throwing away a sector?

 

[Guvner]

Have you looked at Garuda?

 

[PaulST]

Have you looked at Garuda?

They were actually the cheapest at $2.1K but it was via DPS and included a 737 and an A330 with angle flat seats.

If you booked a return why would you want to forfeit the return leg? Couldn't you just book the return as far out as possible with a view to maybe one day using it? or at least using a portion of it and throwing away a sector?

The return J flights were still another $1K on top of the $2.3K. I guess my concern was that I'd be locked into flying with them in the future and I'm kinda already blowing the budget for 2.3K. Damn wish I'd never flown in J and would have been happy with PE.

 

[**TBA**]

Apologies in advance as I recognise my question is vague.
I'm looking at a one-way ticket (I know return tickets are better value but this is unavoidable) from London to Sydney in September (21st to be exact) in business.
China Airlines currently have a sale on fro Gatwick-TPE-SYD for $2.4K in the A359 on both flights.
I've also researched other European cities and London is surprisingly the cheapest.

It's considerably cheaper than everyone else. Air India is in 2.9 while everyone else is mid 3Ks or more.

2.4K seems reasonable and I'd be keen to try their new J in the A350.

My question is, should I bite the bullet and buy these tickets or wait and see if something better comes along? I know QR have had flights from Europe to Australia in J return (so I'd just forfeit the return leg) for under $2K but I suspect this may be an extreme sale?

*I don't have enough points for an award.

Many thanks.

Have you looked at flying out of OSL or ARN? You can generally get Qatar or BA / Cathay (via LHR) for less than $2.5k one way?

I'd prefer to fly them than CI personally..

 

[PaulST]

Have you looked at flying out of OSL or ARN? You can generally get Qatar or BA / Cathay (via LHR) for less than $2.5k one way?

I'd prefer to fly them than CI personally..

Yep tried every major city in Europe and London (Gatwick) was weirdly the cheapest! BA/CX and QR were all >$3K one-way.

 

[kelvedon]

"Damn wish I'd never flown in J and would have been happy with PE.

Can you even get PE one way at that price?

 

[PaulST]

Can you even get PE one way at that price?

I think QF were around 7K when I quickly had a look at their PE prices.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Lifemiles will set you back AUD1630 one way business class from Europe to Australia - plus actual airport taxes. Which will be more expensive from London, but cheap enough if you cross the channel to other EU cities. First is AUD2197 plus tax.

But unfortunately availability Asia-AU is looking slim even this far out, which is concerning. you can play around on the UA site to look for dates.

 

[PaulST]

Lifemiles will set you back AUD1630 one way business class from Europe to Australia - plus actual airport taxes. Which will be more expensive from London, but cheap enough if you cross the channel to other EU cities. First is AUD2197 plus tax.

But unfortunately availability Asia-AU is looking slim even this far out, which is concerning. you can play around on the UA site to look for dates.

Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately it seems that there aren't many miles bonuses at the moment (and as you said, award availability).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately it seems that there aren't many miles bonuses at the moment (and as you said, award availability).

It'll only be a few weeks, at most, before an offer comes around. 2.4K isn't a particularly good fare. Air China was offering business class return from London for around £1100 a couple of times last year. That's still cheaper as a return, and you'd be earning a swag of points in the process. I'd be confident that september is far enough away to wait for something better (than 2.4K).

Garuda is offering one stop LHR-SYD (3 hours in CGK) with 777 and A330 (which may be full flats). Departing 1055pm on the 20th of September. AUD1877.

 

[TomVexille]

I'm assuming that your dates aren't flexible. And that you can't spring for Garuda F ($4688) which I hear is rather excellent.

Bearing in mind that the CGK-SYD sector is J

 

[PaulST]

It'll only be a few weeks, at most, before an offer comes around. 2.4K isn't a particularly good fare. Air China was offering business class return from London for around £1100 a couple of times last year. That's still cheaper as a return, and you'd be earning a swag of points in the process. I'd be confident that september is far enough away to wait for something better.

I note garuda is offering one stop LHR-SYD (3 hours in CGK) with 777 and A330 (which may be full flats). Departing 1055pm on the 20th of September. AUD1877.

Thanks, I really appreciate that you've searched for flights to help me out.
Yeah I did see the Garuda offering although it was a 777 to CGK, then a 737 to DPS and then an A330 to SYD (and they specified that they were angle-flat. I didn't see the one with a A330 from CGK so may check again.

 

[PaulST]

I'm assuming that your dates aren't flexible. And that you can't spring for Garuda F ($4688) which I hear is rather excellent.

Bearing in mind that the CGK-SYD sector is J

haha tempting. I saw that Thai F was in the 4Ks too! Alas I'm already blowing my budget at 2.3K so I better not... , and no the dates aren't really flexible. But I'd love to try GA F as I've heard many good things about it.
And to think that EK F was $2.2K for CAI-DXB-SYD just last year...!!

(I can't complain, though, as this year I'll be flying CX, QR and MH F for the very first time )

 

[TomVexille]

Can you make your way to IST? $2k on LH&OZ or SQ or NH

 

[PaulST]

Can you make your way to IST? $2k on LH&OZ or SQ or NH

Oh my goodness Tom!
I can't believe I didn't check out IST as it would be a fascinating place to visit. One of the $2K options includes the LH 747-8, which as someone who flies almost exclusively OW (and thus has no access to 747-8s), I'm incredibly excited about!

Many thanks!

 

[TomVexille]

Glad to help

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks, I really appreciate that you've searched for flights to help me out.
Yeah I did see the Garuda offering although it was a 777 to CGK, then a 737 to DPS and then an A330 to SYD (and they specified that they were angle-flat. I didn't see the one with a A330 from CGK so may check again.

The A333 flying CKG-SYD is currently showing as a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone. Possibly worth confirming before booking, although so far out no guarantees on the day. The AUD1830 is available through expedia. (however, it's also possible CI could withdraw their 359 on the route putting you back to even worse recliner seats on their A330)